Kirksville football jumps past Mexico in district playoffs

Friday

Nov 1, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 1, 2013 at 11:41 AM

The Tigers used a surprise fake punt en route to a 12-6 win over the Bulldogs at Spainhower Field.

KIRKSVILLE – With time running out in the third quarter Kirksville and Mexico were tied at 6-6, and it had been that way since the second quarter. With the ball on their own 30-yard line Kirksville looked as though they were about to punt the ball away facing a fourth and 10. The Tigers decided to reach into their candy bag and pull out a trick, as Makenna Cook found a wide-open Nathan Farnsworth for a 17-yard gain and a first down.

The drive spilled over into the fourth quarter, and just 46 second seconds in Cook again found Farnsworth, this time for a game-winning, 19-yard touchdown pass, as Kirksville moved on to face Helias with a 12-6 win.

Helping set up the Tigers game-winning score was a big play on third and long from Tyler Osborn. Osborn simply outran the Mexico defense down the sideline to pick up 20 yards on third and 10, just moments after the Tigers converted on the fake punt.

"It was a called play and I knew we were going to go to it when I looked over the defense and no one was covering Nate. I knew all I had to do was throw it up, because he has such great hands," said Cook.

Kirksville head coach Jeff Jacques told his team that they were going to run a fake punt this week, he just didn't know it would be on fourth and long deep inside their own territory.

"That was just our players making plays. I told them we were going to and they held me to it. It was great. Nate and Makenna just have great chemistry and it showed on that play," said Jacques.

The Tigers reached into their bag of tricks yet again to score the game-winning touchdown, just not quite as deep this time. Kirksville ran the exact same play the play before Cook found Farnsworth. On the first attempt. Cook dumped it off incomplete over the middle to Osborn.

"On the first play I threw it incomplete, because I made a bad read. We came right back and ran it again, and this time I read that Nate was open and I was like, touchdown central," said Cook.

Farnsworth just wanted the ball to get there.

"I yelled at the sideline for coach to run it again. Makenna threw a good pass and that was that," said Farnsworth.

Jacques gives full credit to his offensive staff for the call.

"It wasn't my call. It was all Jason Melnick on the call. We went to the No. 3 receiver Tyler on the first play and came right back to it because we knew there was a mismatch with their outside linebacker on Nathan. It was a great throw and catch and it was good to see No. 88 come back," said Jacques.

Farnsworth (No. 88) was hit hard in the back late in the second quarter as he went up for a Cook pass. He missed a handful of plays, but returned to the game.

Not only did Farnsworth return and catch the touchdown, he also intercepted Tyler Bracht with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter to seal the Tigers first playoff win since 2004.

Prior to the interception, Cook pinned the Bulldogs at the six-yard line after a perfectly executed pooch punt, which forced the passing challenged Bulldogs to try and go 94 yards in 2:25.

Cook's night ended much better than it started. The quarterback threw interceptions in the span of three passes in the second quarter. The Tiger defense stiffened and held Mexico to a 26-yard field goal attempt, which the Bulldogs missed, keeping it 0-0.

Kirksville wasn't as lucky on the second turnover as Mexico scored on beautiful middle screen from Bracht to Jamel Taylor from 31 yards out. They would miss the extra point, going up 6-0.

Mexico's kicking game struggles continued as the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds and gave Kirksville great field position with four minutes left in the half. The Tigers took advantage. Cook found Blake Riley coming out of the backfield. Riley then did the work, finding his way into the end zone from 20 yards out. The Tigers fumbled on the two-point conversion, keeping the game tied at 6-6.

Cook went 9-for-22 for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the air. He also rushed 15 times for 116 yards.

Farnsworth had three grabs for 43 yards and a touchdown, along with the late interception.

Riley had 65 yards on 22 carries and the receiving touchdown.

Mexico, who out-gained the Tigers in their prior meeting, couldn't get anything going all night as they only threw for 49 yards, 31 of which came on one play, and the ball traveled a total distance of maybe two yards. Taylor did his best to carry Mexico as he also rushed for 112 yards, but needed 22 carries. Mexico was held to 170 yards of total offense.

The Tigers will now face Helias on a short week as the two meet in the second round on Wednesday in Jefferson City. The Crusaders crushed Marshall, 69-14. The Owls beat the Tigers earlier this season by a score of 33-32. Last time the Tigers and Crusaders met was last season in the opening round of the district playoffs. Helias won, 54-7.

The win over Mexico guarantees Kirksville their first winning season since 2004.